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PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- Putnam County health officials are alerting residents Wednesday who may have had physical contact with a rabid raccoon found at the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center in Carmel to get in touch with them immediately.

The raccoon, which was removed from the plaza Monday evening by Dyckman’s Wildlife Control who had been contacted by the Carmel Police Department, said Putnam County Department of Health Spokeswoman Barbara Ilardi.

Because it was acting strangely in a public setting, the company contacted the Putnam County Health Department to see if they wanted to test it for rabies, which they did.

"The raccoon tested positive for rabies and it's very important for anyone who may have touched the raccoon to contact us," Ilardi added.

She also added that if a family pet had contact with the raccoon to also call the department.

This is the second animal in a week to test positive for rabies in Putnam County.

A gray fox, that later tested positive for rabies, attacked a Mahopac woman on Saturday, Aug. 5, and then chased her into her home. The woman had to undergo a series of rabies shots.

For information, or to report contact with the rabid raccoon, contact the Health Department at 845-808-1390 (Ext. 3 after hours).